Moving Scams

Moving somewhere this year? You and 20 million others! And guess who else is coming along for the ride? Moving scammers.

The possibility of families being scammed is so great that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has launched Operation Protect Your Move, a nationwide crackdown that the agency hopes will put rogue moving companies in their place before the busy summer moving season kicks in. 

The FMCSA will have its hands full with nearly 7,000 moving companies in the U.S. and trying to reduce the 7,500 scam complaints it got in 2022, but it’s officially loaded for bear.

The agency is sending out dozens of investigators across the country to revoke the license of every bad actor they find and put them out of business for good. At the top of the scrutiny list are both movers and brokers who hold household possessions hostage to extort exorbitant additional charges from consumers. 

Other frequent complaints landing on the FMCSA’s desk accuse companies of:

• Using misleading business practices intended to force consumers to pay higher fees

• Unreasonably delaying when household goods are delivered, or in some cases…

• Not delivering someone’s possessions at all. 

Proactively, FMCSA will work directly with consumers to guide them through the process and, when things go wrong, help get their money and goods back.

How to keep a moving scam from happening

According to ConsumerAffairs moving expert Tom Rains, there are 10 red flags that consumers can look for that will identify what moving companies are dead ringers for scammers. His Top 5 will show up like this:

1. You can’t find company information: If you're on a mover’s website and can’t find a physical address, mover’s registration or proof of insurance, that’s a red flag. 

2. The company only does phone estimates: If a company refuses to come to your home to make a final estimate, that’s another red flag. 

3. The mover demands a significant down payment: A small down payment is normal (usually under 20%), but scammers sometimes ask for large down payments, pocket them and disappear. 

4. The bid is suspicious: If one quote is dramatically lower than the other, that’s a red flag, too. Rains said that consumers should be wary of companies that refuse to put estimates in writing.

5. The moving company doesn’t mention your rights and responsibilities: By law, licensed movers must provide their customers with a packet entitled “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” before interstate moves.

You can find Rains’ other five red flags, here.

FMCSA also provides important information on its website at www.ProtectYourMove.gov for consumers planning an interstate move. The two most valuable things ConsumerAffairs found the agency provides the public are 1) a database of registered movers and 2) a downloadable moving checklist that covers every single thing that a mover should do and what a consumer can do if anything goes wrong.

Moving can be a highly stressful activity under the best of circumstances. Picking the right moving company can help, but picking the wrong one can turn the experience into a nightmare.

The month of May marks the beginning of the busiest time in the U.S. for moving -- so much so that the month was designated National Moving Month in 1997. 

With so many people searching for a company to move them across town or across the country, it’s little wonder that some people end up as victims of moving scams. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports that it is getting about 1,100 complaints a year from consumers who have lost money to these operators.

Being able to recognize a moving scam before any money changes hands is the best way to avoid becoming a victim. First, take a look at the way a move is supposed to go.

The way it’s supposed to go

Debbie, of Summerville, S.C., describes a great experience with one of the major moving companies, Allied Van Lines.

“We researched most of the big interstate moving companies prior to selecting Allied,” Debbie wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “The horror stories from many reviews of other companies were frightening. Allied provided an in-home guaranteed quote. They were flexible on dates and when moving day arrived the crew was on time and prepared. The move went like clockwork and we were well taken care of.”

Bad things can happen when you encounter a scammer who is pretending to be a moving company. Consumers could pay a deposit but the movers never show up. Perhaps worse, the scammer could take your belongings and disappear. 

One of the most common moving scams is the bait-and-switch. The victim is offered a low-ball price, but the mover claims the weight is greater than the estimate after the truck is loaded. They then raise the cost to unload the truck by hundreds of dollars.

Red flags

Here are some red flags to look out for when trying to avoid moving scams:

• The company’s website is devoid of an address, registration, and insurance information

• The mover shows up in a rented truck

• The mover wants to be paid in advance

• The mover gives you a verbal quote, not one in writing

If you are looking for a reputable moving company, ConsumerAffairs has done some of the legwork for you. Check out our complete Best Movers Buyer’s Guide, along with thousands of verified consumer reviews, here.

The real estate market is red hot. With more homes changing hands, more people are hiring moving companies -- and when that happens, scammers take notice.

In Florida, where homes are selling faster than just about anywhere else, Attorney General Ashley Moody reports the 5.6% increase in home sales in 2020 has been accompanied by a corresponding increase in moving-related scams.

“If you are a Floridian buying a new house or moving here from out of state to enjoy our great weather and growing economy, be wary of moving scams,” Moody said.

She said there are a number of red flags. If a company refuses to provide a written estimate of the cost or if it demands a large, upfront payment in cash, you could be on the road to a scam.

Another moving nightmare involves the truck arriving at your new home but the driver tells you it won’t be unloaded unless you pay an extra amount.

Research moving companies carefully

One way to protect yourself is to be very careful about choosing a moving company. ConsumerAffairs has collected thousands of verified reviews on the top moving companies, rating the top seven moving companies. 

Steve Weitekamp, president of the California Moving and Storage Association (CMSA) says consumers preparing for a move need to choose carefully. He says the group has found most of the abuses result from moves that are booked online without any preliminary research.

To avoid these types of situations, here are some dos and don’ts:

• Never sign any blank or incomplete documents or contracts;

• Obtain moving estimates and quotes from the company in writing and make sure the estimates are binding;

• Determine whether the movers will perform the move alone or if the company will be subcontracting with another carrier;

• Beware if movers show up in rental trucks without uniformed personnel.

A recent study by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) found that scams are widespread, especially when it comes to moving across state lines. The organization said it logs an average of 13,000 complaints and negative reviews about movers each year.